Mitten Tree Day

Mitten Tree Day arrives on December 6, bringing a cozy opportunity to share warmth and kindness during the winter season. This thoughtful holiday encourages people to set aside traditional ornaments and instead decorate trees with gloves, mittens, and scarves for those in need. It serves as a reminder that the chilly weather can be difficult for many, and a small gesture of giving can make a significant difference.

History of Mitten Tree Day

The specific origins of this holiday are often linked to the children’s book The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen. Published in 1997, the story follows an elderly woman named Sarah who watches children wait for the school bus. When she notices a boy without mittens who cannot play in the snow, she secretly knits a pair and hangs them on a blue spruce tree for him to find. She continues this act of kindness for all the children who need warm hands, eventually covering the tree with colorful knitted gifts.

Beyond the book, the concept of a “mitten tree” has been a charitable tradition in schools, libraries, and churches for decades. Even before the book’s publication, groups like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the mid-20th century often organized winter clothing drives where items were displayed on trees. The holiday formalizes this custom, designating a specific time to focus on collecting winter gear for local communities before the coldest part of the year sets in.

Why is Mitten Tree Day important?

This day addresses a practical necessity during the winter months. While holiday seasons are often filled with toys and gadgets, basic essentials like warm clothing are sometimes overlooked. Frostbite and hypothermia are real risks for homeless populations and families struggling financially. By focusing specifically on handwear, this observance provides a direct solution to a physical need, ensuring that children and adults can protect themselves against freezing temperatures.

The holiday also transforms the act of giving into a visible, communal event. A tree covered in fuzzy, colorful mittens is a powerful visual representation of a community’s generosity. It teaches valuable lessons about empathy and awareness, showing participants that helping others can be done in creative and dignified ways. The anonymity often associated with the tradition—mimicking the secret knitter in the story—adds a layer of selfless goodwill to the season.

• It provides essential warmth to those who lack winter gear.
• It encourages communities to work together for a common cause.
• It teaches children the value of charity and empathy.
• It offers a creative alternative to standard holiday decorations.
• It supports local shelters and schools with tangible resources.

How to Celebrate Mitten Tree Day

The most direct way to observe this day is to organize or contribute to a mitten tree drive. You can set up a Christmas tree or a simple branch display in a public space like an office, classroom, or library. Invite friends, colleagues, or students to bring new or handmade mittens, gloves, and hats to hang on the branches. Once the tree is full, gather all the items and donate them to a local homeless shelter, women’s crisis center, or school program that assists families in need.

If you enjoy crafting, this is the perfect excuse to pick up knitting needles or a crochet hook. creating a pair of handmade mittens adds a personal touch to your donation. For families with young children, reading The Mitten Tree together provides context for the activity. You can discuss why the character Sarah helped the children and how your family can do the same. Even purchasing a few inexpensive pairs of waterproof gloves from a store and dropping them off at a collection box participates in the spirit of the day.

• Set up a tree designated for collecting winter accessories.
• Knit or crochet a pair of mittens to donate.
• Read the story The Mitten Tree to a group of children.
• Purchase waterproof gloves for a local shelter.
• Volunteer to deliver collected items to charity organizations.

Mitten Tree Day Dates